Shears



No. 770,347. 7 .PATENTED SEPT; 20, 1904. LE. BROWN.

SHEARS. 7, APPLIOATIOK IILBD JUNE 26, 1904.

NO MODEL.

. Zak/7677665 [/106/7/fl/ Warm/yaw:

UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT OEEicE.

SHEARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,347, datedSeptember 20, 1904.

Application filed June 25, 1904. Serial No. 214,127. (No model.)

To ztZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J us'rus H. BROWN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shears, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to shears, with particular reference to that typeopened by the action of a spring; and my object is to produce a deviceof this character whereby the spring may be utilized not only to openthe blades, but also to hold them closed, and thus protect their cuttingedges when'not in use.

A further object is to produce a device of this character in which thepressure of the spring can be made variable, and thus accommodatetheshears to do heavy or light work, as may be desired.

A still further object is to equip the blades at their outer sides andedges with flanges for supporting the shears, in conjunction with thespring, in a most convenient position to be quickly and easily grippedby the operator and to cause the blades to be pressed together, and thusperform their cutting function more reliably.

A still further object is to produce a device of this characterembodying means to limit the opening and closing movements of theblades.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel andpeculiar features of construction and organization, as hereinafterdescribed and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understoodreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1represents a side elevation of shears embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa top view of the same. Fig. 3 is afront view of the shears closed. Fig.4 is a side view of a part of one of the blades and showing the same ofmodified construction.

In the said drawings, 1 designates the blades, pivoted together in theusual or any preferred manner, as at 2, near the rear ends, and in therear end of one of the blades is formed a notch 3, alaterally-projecting lug 4 of the other blade fitting loosely in saidnotch, so

that by alternate contact with opposite ends thereof the opening andclosing movements of the shears shall be determined. In the non-cuttingedges of the blades are formed longitudinal notches 5, said notchesbeing of such length that they extend both forward and rearward of pivot2, and forward of said notches and extending almost to the points of theblades are flanges 6, projecting outwardly from the outer sides andedges thereof to provide convenient handles or gripping-surfaces for theoperator.

7 designates a substantially circular spring which, by preference, is offlat metal and provided in its opposite ends with notches 8 in verticalplanes corresponding to the blades, said notches engaging orinterlocking with the notches 5 of the blades. The shears by means ofspring 7 and the undermost flange can be supported in an upright oroperative position with relation to the goods to be outupon a table orother substantially horizontal support, and can therefore be grippedmore readily by the operator, and thus facilitate her work, it beingunderstood that in the use of the shears the spring rests in the hollowof the hand with the thumb pressing down upon the topmost and the firsttwo fingers underlying the other flange. this manner and alternatelypressing upon the flanges and relaxing such pressure to permit thespring to reopen the blades the cutting operation can be performed morequickly than with the ordinary type of shears, especially where theshears are being used for clipping or snipping purposes, and in thisconnection it will be noticed that the pressure on the flanges tends topress the blades laterally together, and consequently overcomes thenatural tendency of the blades to move apart and pinch instead ofproperly cutting heavy cloth or snipping heavy or strong thread or cord.For heavy Work the spring is disposed, by preference, as shown in fulllines, Fig. 1, in which position it has the greatest leverage on theblades. For light work the spring may be adjusted forward the desireddistance in notches 5, so as to oifer less resistance to the pressureimposed by the operator on the blades, and when the shears are to bestored away the By holding the shears in.

spring can be slipped to the front ends of the notches and by imposingpressure forward of pivot 2 hold the blades closed, the pin-andslotconnection constituted by the notch 3and lug 4 limiting such closingmovement, as will be readily understood.

For some purposes it may be found desirable to roughen or nick the baseof each notch 5, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus guard against accidentalslippage of the spring.

Shears of the character described will be found especially desirable intailor-shops and may also be used for various other purposes notnecessary to enumerate herein, and while I have illustrated anddescribed the preferred embodiment of the invention it is to beunderstood that it is susceptible of modification in minor particularswithout departing from its essential spirit and scope or sacrificing anyof its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In shears, the combination of a pair of blades pivoted together, of aspring of substantially circular form and provided with notches in itsends engaging and longitudinally adjustable on the outer edges of theblades.

2. In shears, the combination of a pair of blades pivoted together andprovided forward of their pivotal point and at their outer edges withoutwardly-projecting flanges, and a flat spring of substantiallycircular form, and having its ends engaging and longitudinallyadjustable on the outer edges of the blades, the body portion of thespring being disposed rearwardly of the blades and acting in conjunctionwith the undermost flange, to support the shears in an upright positionupon a suitable support, such as a table.

3. In shears, the combination of a pair of blades pivoted together andprovided in their outer edges and extending forwardly and rearwardly oftheir pivotal points, with notches, and a spring of substantiallycircular form provided with notches in its ends engaging andlongitudinally adjustable in the blade-notches.

4:. In shears, the combination of blades pivoted together, asubstantially circular spring having its ends engaging andlongitudinally adjustable on the outer edges of the blades, and meansfor limiting the opening-and-closing movement of the blades.

5. In shears. the combination of blades pivoted together and provided intheir outer edges with notches extending both forward and rear ward oftheir pivotal point and having their bases roughened, and a springhaving its ends engaging and longitudinally adjustable on the bases ofsaid notches.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

J USTUS H. BROWN.

Witnesses:

F. R. GLOBE, Gr. Y. THORPE.

